Specific phobias are characterised by an extreme and unreasonable fear of a
specific object or situation such as dogs, heights, thunder, darkness, flying,
escalators, tunnels, closed spaces, urinating or defecating in public toilets,
eating certain foods, dentistry, the sight of blood or injury, and the fear
of exposure to specific diseases.

Once the phobia starts to interfere with normal daily functioning, then it
is problematic. Generally specific phobias can be categorised as follows:

Animal type - cued by animals or insects.

Natural environment type - cued by objects in the environment, such as storms,
heights, or water.

Situational type - cued by a specific situation, such as public transportation,
tunnels, bridges or elevators.

Flying, driving, or enclosed spaces.

Other types - cued by stimuli other than the above, such as of choking,
vomiting, or contracting an illness.

What
causes specific phobias?

No one knows the precise cause, but they seem to run in families and are slightly
more prevalent in women.

Specific phobias usually arise in childhood or early adult life and can persist
for decades if they remain untreated. Some children grow out of phobias, while
others do not, although there is no medical explanation for this.

People generally develop phobias for objects they cannot predict or control.
Danger is more stressful when it takes us by surprise.

How
is a specific phobia diagnosed?

One key to diagnosing a phobic disorder is that the fear must be excessive
and disproportionate to the situation. Fear alone does not distinguish a phobia;
both fear and avoidance must be evident. The phobic situation is avoided whenever
possible. Examples include: agoraphobia, animal phobias, claustrophobia and
examination phobia.

What
is agoraphobia?

An abnormal and persistent fear of public places or open areas, especially
those from which escape could be difficult if help was not immediately accessible.
Panic disorders frequently accompany agoraphobia. As such, suffers not only
avoid certain public places but they also avoid the situations which bring them
anxiety or panic.

What causes agoraphobia?

The Freudians speculate that as young children agoraphobics may have feared
abandonment by a cold or apparently uncaring mother and the fear has generalised
to a fear of abandonment or helplessness.

By contrast, modern learning theory suggests that agoraphobia may develop because
people avoid situations they have found painful or

The disorder tends to be triggered by a traumatic event, and generally start
in the mid to late 20s20s and affects women twice as often as men.

What are the symptoms of agoraphobia?

People with agoraphobia become anxious if they even think about being trapped
in a situation where it might be difficult to leave. People with agoraphobia
also characteristically avoid the situations which bring them anxiety or panic.
In the most severe cases, victims may be incapacitated and be homebound.

What are social phobias?

Social phobias are excessive fear of embarrassment in social situations that
are extremely intrusive and can have a damaging affect on personal and professional
relationships. It is a persistent fear of situations where you feel scrutinised,
embarrassed and humiliated in public. This interferes with any activity in public,
including, public speaking, eating in public, interaction with colleagues and
asking for directions. Although sufferers recognise that their fear is excessive
and unreasonable, they are unable to overcome it.

What causes social phobias?

Psychologists believe that people with panic disorders may develop social phobias
because they are afraid of being incapacitated or embarrassed by a panic attack
in a public place. In a sense, they are afraid of their own fear.

What are the symptoms of social phobia?

The symptoms and signs of social phobia include blushing, sweating, trembling,
rapid heartbeat, muscle tension and stomach discomfort, light-headedness, and
other symptoms of anxiety.

Why should social phobia be treated?

If not treated, social phobia can be extremely disabling to a person's work,
social and family relationships. In extreme cases, a person may begin to avoid
all social situations and become housebound.

What is the treatment for specific phobias?

Not all specific phobias require treatment. Treatment is not usually required
unless the feared object is so common that it is not easily avoided. Agoraphobia
and social phobias are the commonest specific phobias requiring treatment because
of the level of disruption they cause in the lives of the sufferer and his/her
family.

The most effective treatment is behaviour therapy. This is sometimes combined
with specific anti-depressant medications. People with social phobia may also
benefit from training in social skills.

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